A number of weeks in the past, I had the privilege to sit down down with Raghni Naidu, founding father of Naidu Wines in Sonoma County. Born and raised within the state of Punjab in India, Raghni immigrated to the San Francisco Bay space in 2006. Naidu Wines was “fueled by Raghni’s zeal and is impressed by the farm-to-table way of life she skilled over time.” Her household had a “kitchen backyard” and her mom was a superb prepare dinner. Having traveled extensively, Raghni defined that “on one household street journey from Monte Carlo to Barcelona, through Les Baux-de-Provence, France, the delicacies knowledgeable her palate and her worldview.”
Raghni Naidu shares her heritage and story as an immigrant at Naidu’s tasting room experiences, throughout restaurant collaborations and thru placements on a bevy of wine lists. She has partnered with premier eating places and cooks and has had her wines poured at James Beard Basis dinners and on the British Consulate in San Francisco. To go to Naidu Wines, click on HERE.
What makes Naidu Wines notable isn’t just the world-class area wherein the grapes are cultivated. After tasting by way of a number of of her choices, it’s obvious that the extraordinarily prime quality of every wine is a results of superior steadiness of taste, acidity and texture. Every choice can complement a variety of meals from Indian and Thai to Mediterranean to American classics in quite a lot of settings. Curious? Learn on.
Photograph Credit score: Naidu Wines
We wish to have enjoyable with this! We’re very properly acquired to date and we’ve a number of wines – not only one flagship wine. All of our wines are constantly good with a selected stage of high quality, magnificence and steadiness – true traits of vineyard. The wines are intentional and need to be poured in the most effective settings in order that the fitting individual can admire them. We produce Brut Glowing Wine, a Brut Rosé, a Rosé of Pinot Noir, Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc.
We use French oak barrels from Bourgogne. My winemaker, Matt Duffy, may be very gifted and shares the identical excessive requirements as me. We style the wines from barrels collectively to ensure we’re on the fitting path. The excessive factors we obtain tells me that what we’re doing is nice. It’s validation that Naidu Vineyard is heading in the right direction. Excerpt from A Dialog with Raghni Naidu, Founding father of Naidu Wines
Our first wine was NV Glowing Brut ($40), a day delight of 63% Chardonnay, 27% Pinot Noir, 8% Piot Blanc and a pair of% Pinot Gris. Contemporary and fruit pushed, the slightest quantity of candy was a stunning complement to vegetable tacos I loved with Raghni at lunch. NV Glowing Brut Rosé ($45) was a stunning bubbly excellent by itself or with appetizers and good mates. 82% Pinot Noir and 18% Chardonnay provided vivid and juicy crimson berries on the nostril and palate. 150 circumstances have been make of each wines that have been produced utilizing the standard technique whereby the second fermentation is within the bottle.
2022 Viognier ($50) is from Catie’s Nook Winery on Goldridge sandy loam soil within the Russian River Valley. It exuded intense aromatics of stone fruit and citrus resulting in vivid acidity and extra citrus on the palate. This Viognier was aged in impartial French oak barrels for under 4 months to protect freshness earlier than filtration and bottling. 88 circumstances have been made. Aged in French oak barrels for 10 months, even those that aren’t followers of Chardonnay will admire 2022 Chardonnay ($50) from Catie’s Nook Winery. Optimally balanced with fruit notes and a lingering end, Raghni’s purpose for prime quality is clear in every sip. 108 circumstances have been produced.
Pinot Noir is one in all my go-to meals pleasant wines and Naidu Wines provides two notable choices. 2022 Pinot Noir ($60) from the Russian River Valley showcases fruit from two vineyards: Naidu Property and Marshall Ranch, each on sandy loam soil of Goldridge class. The wine was aged for 10 months in oak with 40% new oak and no filtration. Textured with a spherical mouthfeel, wealthy crimson fruit and a lush end, open this wine now though it has the flexibility to age. 202 circumstances have been produced. Raghni Naidu defined that “the 2021 Property Pinot Noir ($75) is essentially the most full wine bottled thus far.” The 2021 rising season was cool, smoke free and late leading to “the most effective classic in Sonoma County in a minimum of 5 years.” Aged in French oak for 15 months, this wine boasting depth, intense taste and texture was bottled unfiltered.
Photograph Credit score: Naidu Wines
2022 Cabernet Franc ($65) is from an formally licensed natural winery, Cassata Winery, in Sonoma County. Belief me once I say that it ticks all of the containers for any true Cab Franc aficionado. 105 circumstances have been produced of this lush wine with depth and breadth from the primary whiff to closing sip. Aged in French oak for 16 months earlier than bottling with out fining or filtration, your ceremonial dinner friends await for his or her first pour.
Photograph Credit score: Naidu Wines
Cheers! ~ Cindy
Chances are you’ll get pleasure from the next article about Raghni Naidu: A Dialog with Raghni Naidu, Founding father of Naidu Wines in Sonoma County. Click on the title to learn or HERE.
To your free infographic, “4 Keys to a Stellar Wine Decide” and a subscriber-only coupon code for the web course “Uncover the Necessities of Wine (and select it like a professional!)” click on right here.
